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Honda Odyssey vs Dodge/Chrysler minivans - READ ONLY

7485 messages,  Last post on Mar 23, 2008 at 8:43 AM

You are in the Honda Odyssey Forum.

What is this discussion about? Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Chrysler Voyager, Plymouth Voyager, Van

Messages Page 3 of 749

#17 of 7485 Odyssey vs Grand Caravan Sport (or T&C LX) by carleton1

Jan 14, 2001 (7:22 am)

For the past 2 days, I have attended the big Auto Show and looked at a sample of almost every vehicle sold in the USA plus some new concept cars like the Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevy Nomad, Buick Cielo, Chrysler Chronos, 2002 Trailblazer, 2002 Envoy, 2002 Bravada.
   I looked more closely at the 2001 Odyssey EX, Grand Caravan Sport, Caravan Sport, Caravan SE, Voyager LX, Voyager Base, T&C LXi, and Sienna XLE and tried to make a very close comparison.
   Unfortunately, the batteries were disconnected which made it difficult to properly evaluate the driver's seating position for visibility and exact comfort level at the place I would position seat.
   The Odyssey offers most of the nice features I would have on a minivan at the best MSRP.
   Sienna appeared to be slightly more upscale in appearance and was considerably more expensive. Leather, power moonroof, etc. are not items on my desired feature list.
   Dodge and Chrysler had models from the under $20,000 Voyager with 4 cyl to a luxurious Grand Caravan Sport AWD and Town & Country LXi. True, the base Voyager lacks many features but would be a very good choice for someone who needs a minivan to seat 7, have 2 built in child seats, and have an MSRP of only $20,005. Add $375 for Cruise and tilt steering.
   The Odyssey appeared to have the most leg room. Very comfortable front and middle row. But, the magic seat hinges poke me in the back if I sit at either end of 3rd seat. All the Sienna seats were very comfortable...even the middle of 2 piece 3rd seat...but leg room was lacking in 2nd and 3rd rows. Chrysler and Dodge 50/50 3rd row seat was NOT comfortable in the middle due to hinges poking me in the back. They are not as comfortable in the driver's seat for me with place to rest left foot as were Odyssey and Sienna
but other seats were equally comfortable to Ody and Sienna except Sienna 3rd row seat is more comfortable than Ody or DC minivans.
    The Dual or Triple Zone heating/AC of DC minivans is superior to the Ody and Sienna. Ody has heating in only front and very rear right. Sienna has front plus ducts under front seats. DC has heating in front, rear of front doors plus the rear right. All 3 had A/C in front and ceiling...but here again, DC A/C also comes out the rear of each front door and ONLY DC permits the driver and front passenger to have individually adjusted temperature of heat, vent, or A/C.
    I can see no reason to trade our 1999 GC SE in on any of the new minivans except to get a more powerful engine than my 3.3L with 158 HP and 203 lb-ft of torque.
    I felt that the 2002 Trailblazer showed the most improvement over its predecessor than any vehicle...but, the 2001 Blazer NEEDED more improvements than other vehicles. I liked the new RAV-4 and Sequoia but the Highlander was a disappointment. Insight is not practical like
a 5 passenger Prius.

#18 of 7485 Either Grand Caravan or Odyssey would have been lovely yesterday by carleton1

Jan 19, 2001 (7:17 am)

as we drove to the funeral of my wife's uncle and it was 1 degree below zero (Fahrenheit) enroute. It was 18 degrees below zero Centigrade.
    With the powerful heater in front and the nice powerful rear heater with a separate fan, the van warmed up quickly when we left home where the temperature was a milder +10 F. The Odyssey with a separate front a rear heater unit would have heated the van just as nicely.
    The temperature rose from 9 F at the funeral site during the viewing and funeral to a more comfortable 15 F. It had warmed up to 30 F at home just 110 miles south of the town where the funeral was held. Living in a place where temperature can vary from well below zero F. in the winter to above 100 F. in the summer, the excellent heating and air conditioning of Grand Caravan, T&C, and Odyssey are greatly appreciated.

#19 of 7485 carleton1 - check out Dodge's home page by netgazer

Jan 31, 2001 (6:08 am)

Dodge just announced a GC EX and is priced lower than the Odyssey EX. You might want to compare the standard feature offerings to the Odyssey. You can configure the new EX at www.4adodge.com. T&C also has an EX (www.chrysler.com). Good luck in your pruchase decision.

#20 of 7485 netgazer: THANKS for the hot tip. by carleton1

Feb 01, 2001 (9:32 pm)

We love our 99 GC SE and just had the tires rotated at 23,620 miles. Rear tires had no measurable wear and front tires had about 70% of tread remaining. Van has had ZERO problems. GREAT
purchase and am glad we got the GC SE.

#21 of 7485 2001 Grand Caravan EX by carleton1

Feb 04, 2001 (7:55 pm)

Has many options I do not want such as Power liftgate and power sliding passenger-side door, 50/50 rear seats, removeable center console with power outlet.
   Now, why did it not include the Trip Computer? (that I have on my 99 GC SE). Why not offer the Trip Computer and 3.8L on the GC Sport?
   DC has made an attractive package with GC EX and T&C EX but have things I do not want while not having a nice item like the Trip Computer.
   On the other hand, the Odyssey LX has most of the things I like at a lower price (Although not the Trip computer...and also not the Triple Zone of DC minivans).

#22 of 7485 My Caravan has been the perfect vehicle by tmicrp

Feb 07, 2001 (10:28 am)

I have no doubt that the Honda is a fine machine, but I absolutely love my 99 Grand Caravan Sport. We bought it in May 99. It now has 26,0000 miles. I've followed the book for routine maintenance. It has run perfectly in every respect. It's handling, acceleration, braking etc., have met my every expectation.

#23 of 7485 Re: 2001 Grand Caravan EX by dave210

Feb 07, 2001 (5:05 pm)

carleton1, I just went to the Dodge website and for just under $27,000 you do in fact get a trip computer plus all the other power amenities on the EX. So it does in fact come with a trip computer and temp readout for under $27,000. Also, I understand you're entitled to your opinion and all, but if the price was right, why wouldn't you go for a power seat, doors, and the removable console? If you don't like the console you can take it out, and it's another great place to put stuff. Although, I guess I'm a little biased since I've had a power seat on all my vans starting with my 1988 Grand Voyager and now power doors, back gate, memory mirrors/seats, etc., on my 2001 T&C LTD. Does this mean you have manual locks and windows, too on your 99 SE? Just wondering.

#24 of 7485 My 1999 GC SE and the 2001 GC EX by carleton1

Feb 07, 2001 (9:50 pm)

My 99 GC SE has overhead console with Trip Computer and Compass/Outside Temperature. The sheet I printed on 2001 GC EX from Dodge web site states the EX has only an Overhead console plus compass and temperature...The Trip computer is NOT listed...My Dodge 2001 brochure shows ONLY the EX has Trip Computer and GC Sport has compass and temperature. The EX does have the more desirable 3.8 L V6.
   MY 99 GC SE has speed actuated power door locks, power windows, Infinity 10 speaker 200 Watt stereo with cassette and CD player, Cast Aluminum wheels, lighting group, etc. The only option I can think of that I do not have that 99's SE's could have was the security and remote key fob. The 2000 GC SE did NOT have a Trip Computer as an option while my 99 Trip Computer/compass/outside temperature came with the Dual Zone/ Rear Heating Rear A/C option. I would have preferred the Sport option over the regular SE but the dealer did not have a GC Sport when I bought. My 99 GC SE had MSRP of $27,490 and after discount my price was $22,590. The 2001 EX is NOT eligible for incentives.

#26 of 7485 tmicrp: Do you have the 3.3L or 3.8L V6? by carleton1

Feb 13, 2001 (3:47 am)

Our 99 GC SE with the 3.3L has also met or exceeded my expectations once I got used to some features that did not measure up to my 91 Astro CL with the 4.3L V6.
   I preferred the larger 4.3L with MUCH more torque, the more comfortable seats, the 27 gal fuel tank, the rear panel doors and the higher seating position of the Astro.
   Twenty-three months later, I like the GC better as the heating and air conditioning of GC is far superior to the Astro. The front passenger seat is much more comfortable in the GC. The GC has had zero problems whereas the Astro had that damnable digital dash instrumentation which started working intermittently (coolant temperature and oil pressure)a year or so after purchase. The trim on sliding door came loose and would not permit the door to be opened from the outside. (I think the door had been dented before I purchased the Astro as the "alleged" first owner and in the repair, the Chevy dealership was too damn cheap to also replace the cheap plastic items that held the trim to the door).
   The less powerful 3.3L in GC gets about 3 MPG better gas mileage on highway trips than did the Astro and about 1 MPG better mileage overall than did the Astro. Result: I prefer an engine larger than the 3.3L and wish we had bought a 99 GC Sport with 3.8L and the nicer quality seats than our SE.
   I think DC could design a more comfortable place for driver to rest left foot while driving than is the situation with the 96 and later DC minivans. Our daughter's 1988 Voyager had a better place to rest the driver's left foot and also had more comfortable front seats than does our 1999 GC SE.

Messages Page 3 of 749

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